Wire wrapping tool



Dec. 4, 1962 K. w. EMBERSON ETAL 3,066,879

WIRE WRAPPING TOOL INVENTORS EMBERSON Filed June 11, 1958 FRKFFAERK Wk PM 0 M y .v T 08 ms n ATTORNEYS 3,iifi5,879 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 3,066,879 WIRE WRAPPING TOOL Kenneth William Emberson, Chingford, London, and

Reginald Ernest George Hunt, Bromley, England, assignors to Associated Electrical Industries (Woolwich) Limited, a British company Filed June 11, 1958, Ser. No. 741,273 Claims priority, application Great Britain June 13, 1957 8 Claims. (Cl. 242-7) This invention relates to wire wrapping tools as used for making wrapped joints between a terminal or other such member and a wire to be connected thereto.

It is known that for certain applications, for instance in the wiring of certain parts of a telephone exchange, it is possible to effect wiring connections to terminals by means of joints formed simply by wrapping the wire round the terminals under tension. To make such a joint, which may be solderless, a tool is commonly used in which a rotatable wrapping bit has defined therein two passageways which open at spaced apart positions through what will be considered as the front end of the bit and which are intended to receive respectively the wrapping wire and a terminal to be wrapped. With the tool applied to a terminal and with that portion of the wire which has actually to be wrapped about the terminal extending into the appropriate passage from the front of the bit, rotation of the bit about the terminal with the external part 'of the wire held, will result in the wire being wrapped due to the eccentric position which the passage containing the wire then occupies. Wrapping tension is developed in the wire due to its being drawn out of its passageway over the edge of the mouth of the latter, this edge being usually suitably radiused towards the mouth of the terminal passageway to provide correct tension in the wire.

A disadvantage of the known forms of wire wrapping tool is that where, as is sometimes required, several wires have to be connected to the same terminal at spaced positions along it, there is no facility inherent in the tool itself for obtaining the required spacing. One method sometimes employed to achieve this spacing involves the use of a flat spacing crook; this is hooked over the terminal against a first wrapped joint thereon and the tool is then applied over the terminal again until it meets the crook, which thus acts as a stop defining the position for starting a second wrap. Further wraps on the same terminal can be effected in the same way. It will be appreciated however that where, as in a telephone exchange, a vast number of multiple joints may be required, the use of a spacing crook in this way adds a very undesirable complication to the wrapping process.

For avoiding this drawback where a terminal to be wrapped is one of several mounted reasonably close together on, say, a common terminal block, it is proposed, according to the invention, that the tool should include what will be termed a joint locating part presenting, at a laterally offset position with respect to the axis of rotation of the bit, a surface which, for determining the posilion of a wrapped joint on a terminal, can act as a stop by engaging the crown of an adjacent terminal, the bit being rotatable with respect to said locating part.

Thus in a wire wrapping tool conforming to the invention a shank part for the bit may be rotatably accommodated in said locating part of the tool, which locating part, in order to be capable of acting as a stop as aforesaid, extends laterally with respect to the axis of rotation of the bit to an extent sufficient to overlap and engage the crown of an adjacent terminal when the bit is applied to a terminal to be wrapped.

For permitting the formation of a number of spaced joints on the same terminal the bit and the locating part may be made relatively adjustable with respect to each other lengthwise of the axis of rotation: thus it is contemplated for instance that there may be defined on the shank part carrying the bit, for instance by the bit itself, a shoulder between which and the locating part one or more distance pieces can be inserted or omitted as desired, giving a choice of two or more different relative axial positions of the bit with respect to the locating part and thus enabling the provision of a corresponding number of spaced wrapped joints to be made on the same terminal. Alternatively the locating part may be provided with a member selectively engageable in cooperating axially spaced recesses in a part of the tool which is axially movable with the bit with respect to the locating part while permitting rotation of the bit with respect to the latter: for instance the recesses may be provided in the shank part referred to, the recesses then requiring to be annular in order to permit the relative rotation of the bit, or in a bearing member which accommodates such shank part and is axially movable with it while permitting relative rotation thereof with respect to the locating part.

The laterally extending locating part, which conveniently may be constituted by a main body member for the tool in which the shank for the bit is journalled for its rotation, may be made sufliciently thin so that by appropriate orientation it may, if desired, be passed between terminals lying adjacent to one being wrapped without engaging them. This would enable an additional wrapped joint to be made on the terminal, this additional joint being made first with the locating part rendered in operative as indicated and with the terminal allowed to penetrate into the bit to a maximum extent; subsequent spaced joints on the same terminal would then be made with the locating part re-orientated to engage a terminal and thus limit the extent by which the terminal being wrapped penetrates into the bit.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood two embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in partial section one form of wire wrapping tool conforming to the invention and having provision for position selection by means of a distance piece or pieces;

FIG. 2 illustrates in partial section another form of wire wrapping tool conforming to the invention having provision for position selection by means of a screw member engaging axially spaced recesses;

FIGS. 10 and 2a are end views of the bit of the tools of FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively;

FIG. 3a is an enlarged front end view of the bit of the wrapping tool of either FIG. 1 or FIG. 2;

FIG. 3b is a sectional side view of the bit taken through the line XX in FIG. 3a; and

FIG. 4 illustrates the manner of using the wrapping tool of FIG. 1 for making joints at different posit ons on a terminal.

Since the two tools of FIGS. 1 and 2 have substantially the same general form and differ mainly in their means of position selection, like portions have been given the same reference numerals in these two figures which for convenience in the ensuing description will be considered jointly.

Referring to the drawing, the wrapping bit proper, generally designated by the reference 1, is carried at one end of a shank 2 which is journalled for rotation in a body member 3 of generally rectangular cross-section. The bit 1 is formed by drilling an axially extending hole 4 in the end of the shank 2 to take a terminal and by forming an end portion of the outer surface of the shank 2 with a longitudinal groove 5 which defines, sleeve e tightly fitted over the end of the shank 2, the passage for the wrapping wire. An intermediate portion of the shank 2 behind the bit 1 is cut away to form a fiat 7 which exposes the rear of the passage 5 for the wrapping wire. This fa ilitates construction and enable the wrapping wire to be pushed through t.e bit 1 from the front into the space '23 left by the fiat 7. An indicating iarh 9 provided on the bit 1 adjacent to the wire passageway can facilitate loading of the tool.

in H68. 1 and la the shank 2 is off-centred in the body member 3 along the major axis of the rectangular cross-section of the latter, so that a portion of the body member 3 projects laterally of the axis of rotation of the bit, and forms the locating part previously referred to.- In FIGS. 2 and 2a the shank 2 is approximately ceritrally disposed so that the body member 3 projects sub stantially equally on both sides of the axis of rotation and either projecting portion can therefore be used as the locating part. in both cases the end of the body member 3 nearer the bit 1 presents a forwardly facing surface which is formed with a groove 19 or is otherwise recessed to a certain extent in order to provide positive location for the crown of a terminal (such as 12, FIG. 4) which the body member 3 engages when acting as a stop. This groove ll) extends to meet the bearing aperture in the body member 3, and in the embodiment of PEG. 1 the edge where they meet may be radiused as indicated at 11 to facilitate access of the wrapping wire into the space 8 when loading the tool, this being effected with the bit rotated through 180 from the position shown. The shank 2 at its end 13 remote from the bit 1 carries a crank handle M which is secured in position by a lock nut 15 screwed on to the shank 2.

In the case of the wrapping tool of FIGS. 1 and In, one or more distance pieces to, which may be simple annular collars, are provided for f tting over the shank 2 between the body member 3 and either the bit 1 (as in FIG. 1) or the handle 14. The length of the distance piece 16, or of the distance pieces in aggregate, corresponds to the difference in length between the body member 3 and the portion of the shank 2 between the bit It and the handle 14 and is chosen in dependence on the number of turns required in each wrapped joint, on the size of wire being used, and on the spacing required between the joints.

Using only one distance piece, the tool of PEG. 1 can be used for applying three joints to a terminal in the following manner, it being assumed that the terminal is on a terminal block having a number of such terminals extending perpendicularly from one side thereof in a row.

Referring to FIG. 4, for a first joint 18, the tool is assembled with the distance piece 16 between the bit 1 and the body member 3 as in FIG. 1. After the tool has been loaded by inserting the (bared) end of the wire to be wrapped into the relevant passageway in the bit 1, the body member 3 is turned so that as shown at A the major axis of its cross-section lies at right angles to the row of terminals 12 containing the one to be wrapped. When the bit 1 is offered to a terminal with the body member 3 in this position the body member 3 passes between the adjacent tags and the tool is advanced until the front end of the bit 1 engages the base of the terminal block 17. The handle 14 is then turned to rotate the bit 1 and make a first joint 18 by wrapping the wire spirally round the terminal. As the wrap is made, the body member 3 moves away from the base of the terminal block 1?, to the position shown, as the whole tool moves outward to form the spiral wrapping. For a second joint "19, the body member 3 is turned so that, as shown at B, the major axis of its cross-section lies parallel to the row of terminals 12, with the result that when the bit 1 is offered to a terminal, the body member 3 engages against the crown (that is, the outer end) of an adjacent terminal and thus acts as the locatin part previously referred to for preventing the bit 1 from being advanced any further. The wrapped joint l9, being the second on its terminal, is then effected. For a third joint 2%, the tool is dismantled by separating the handle 14, the body member 3 and the distance piece 7.5 from the shank 2, and is re-assembled with the distance piece M at the other end of the tool, that is, as shown at C, between the body member 3 and the handle lid. A third joint 24 is then effected in the same way as for a second joint 1?, but this time, since the bit 2 is nearer the body member 3, the joint 20 is made even further out from the base of the terminal block 17. The need to dismantle and i e-assemble the tool as just indicated would be no great objection since in practice the procedure would be first of all to effect all the first and second joints required and only then alter the tool for effecting the third joints,

in the case of the wrapping tool of FIGS. 2 and 2a, the shank 2 for the bit 1 is received in a bearing sleeve accommodated in the body member 3 and having axially spaced annular grooves 22 provided on its outer periphery to constitute locating recesses. The shank 2 can rotate within the sleeve 21 but relative axial movement between these parts is restricted by dimensioning the sleeve 21 to fit with only a small end clearance between the handle 14 and the shoulder 23 formed by the rear end of the bit 1. The sleeve 21 together with the shank 2 can, however, move axially within the body member 3 and can be selectively adjusted to different relative axial positions with respect to the body member 3 by engagement of a screw member 24 in one or another of the annular grooves 22. Consequently, accord ing to which of the annular grooves 22 is engaged by the screw member 24, so a corresponding projection of the bit 1 with respect to the front end of the body member 3 may be obtained. In order to readily ascertain the required relative axial position of the bit 1 for different joints on the same terminal, spaced annular markings 25 may be provided on the outer periphery of the bit 1.

it is contemplated that, in use, the tool of FIGS. 2 and 2a will most usually be operated with the body member 3 lying in a position for engagement with the crown of an adjacent tag. With this mode of operation the tool, having four locating grooves 22, can be used for applying up to four joints to a terminal in a manner similar to that described for position B (FIG. 4) of the tool of FIGS. 1 and la, the spacing between successive joints being obtained by simply loosening the screw member 24 from one of the grooves 22, sliding the shank 2 and sleeve 21 along until the next groove 22 is opposite the screw member Z (this being indicated by the corresponding marking 25 being level with the front end of the body member 3) and then tightening the screw member again. Other numbers of joints on a terminal may be catered for by providing a corresponding number of locating grooves 22.

It will be noted that, for the front end of the body member 3 to be able to engage the crown of a terminal adjacent to that being wrapped, the terminal receiving passage t must be of sufficient length (see FIG. 1) to extend into the bit beyond the front surface of the body member 5, otherwise the inner end of this passage would engage the crown of the terminal being wrapped and would prevent the body member 3 from engaging the adjacent terminal. This applies to both embodiments. For the embodiment of PEG. l, if used to wrap a first joint in the manner indicated, namely in such manner that the front end of the bit engages the terminal block, the length of the passage 4 would also have to satisfy the requirement of being longer than the length of a terminal.

The invention is applicable both to hand operated and power driven wrapping tools and it will be appreciated that in carrying out the invention various constructional modifications are possible as compared with the particular embodiments described.

What we claim is:

1. On a wire wrapping tool suitable for making a wrapped join-t between one of a group of projecting spaced terminals, each having an engageable crown, and a wire to be connected thereto, said tool including a rotatable wrapping bit having defined therein two passageways which open at spaced apart positions through the front end of the bit to receive the wrapping wire and a terminal to be wrapped respectively; a joint locating part having a forwardly facing surface engageable with the crown of a terminal adjacent to a terminal being wrapped, said surface being laterally offset, with respect to the axis of rotation of the wrapping bit, by an amount greater than the spacing between adjacent terminals; the passageway which receives the terminal in the wrapping bit extending into the bit to a position beyond said forwardly facing surface of the joint locating part, whereby said forwardly facing surface can act as a stop by engaging the crown of an adjacent terminal, the bit being rotatable with respect to this joint locating part and being relatively adjustable lengthwise with respect thereto.

2. On a wire wrapping tool suitable for making a wrapped joint between one of a group of projecting spaced terminals, each having an engageable crown, and a wire to be connected thereto, said tool including a rotatable wrapping bit having defined therein two passageways which open at spaced apart positions through the front end of the bit to receive the wrapping wire and a terminal to be wrapped respectively, said wrapping bit also having a shank part, a joint locating part in which said shank par-t of the bit is rotatably accommodated, said joint cating part having a front end surface which extends laterally with respect to the axis of rotation of the bit to an extent sufficient to overlap the crown of an adjacent terminal When the bit is applied to a terminal to be wrapped, said front end surface being able to engage the crown of such adjacent terminal as a stop determining the position of a wrapped joint, said wrapping bit and joint locating part being relatively adjustable with respect to each other lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the wrapping bit, and the passageway which receives the terminal in the bit extending into the bit to a position beyond said front end surface of the joint locating part.

3. A wire wrapping tool as claimed in claim 2 having also means insertable between the bit and said joint locating part for providing at least two different axial positions of the bit with respect to the locating part.

4. A Wire wrapping tool as claimed in claim 2 having a part formed with axially spaced recesses, said part being axially movable with the bit with respect to the joint locating part while permitting rotation of the bit with respect to the latter, and co-operating means selectively engageable in said recesses for determining at least two different axial positions of the bit with respect to the locating part.

5. A wire wrapping tool as claimed in claim 4 in which the wrapping bit has a shank part and the said part of the tool formed with recesses is a bearing member which accommodates said shank part.

6. A wire wrapping tool suitable for making a Wrapped joint between one of a group of projecting terminals, each having an engageable crown, and a wire to be connected thereto comprising; a rotatable wrapping bit having a bit part and a shank part, which bit part has defined therein two passageways which open at spaced apart positions through the front end of the bit to receive, respectively, the wrapping wire and a terminal to be wrapped; a main body member in which said shank part is journalled for rotation and which has a front end surface extending laterally of the axis of rotation of the bit to an extent sufficient to overlap a terminal adjacent to one to which said bit part is applied said front end surface being able to engage the crown of such adjacent terminal as a stop determining the position of a wrapped joint, said wrapping bit and said front end surface being relatively adjustable with respect to each other lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the wrapping bit, and the passageway which receives the terminal in the bit extending into the bit to a position beyond said front end surface of the main body member; and means insertable between said bit part and said surface for providing at least two different relative axial positions of said wrapping bit with respect to said surface.

7. A wire wrapping tool suitable for making a wrapped joint between one of a group of projecting terminals and a wire to be connected thereto comprising, a rotatable wrapping bit having a bit part and a shank part, which bit part has defined therein two passageways which open at spaced apart positions through the front end of the bit to receive respectively the wrapping wire and a terminal to be wrapped; a main body member having a front end surface extending laterally of the axis of rotation of the bit to an extent sufficient to overlap a terminal adjacent to one to which said bit is applied, said wrapping bit being relatively adjustable with respect to said front end surface of the body member lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the bit; a bearing sleeve provided in said body member and having said shank part of the bit journalled for rotation therein while being axially movable with it, said bearing sleave being formed on its outer periphery with axially spaced annular grooves, and a member provided on said body member and selectively engageable with said grooves to give different relative axial positions of the wrapping bit and the main body member.

8. A wire wrapping tool suitable for making a wrapped joint between one of a group of projecting terminals, each having an engageable crown, and a wire to be connected thereto comprising a rotatable wrapping bit having a bit part and a shank part, said bit part having defined therein two passageways which open at spaced apart positions through the front end of the bit to receive respectively the wrapping wire and a terminal to be wrapped, and a main body member in which said shank part is journalled for rotation and which has a front end surface extending laterally of the axis of rotation of the bit to an extent suflicient to overlap a terminal adjacent to one to which said bit part is applied said front end surface being able to engage the crown of such adjacent terminal as a stop determining the position of a Wrapped joint, said wrapping bit and said front end surface being relatively adjustable with respect to each other lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the wrapping bit, and the passageway which receives the terminal in the bit extending into the bit to a position beyond said front end surface of the main body member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,148 Buckley et a1. Oct. 29, 1929 2,564,256 Henderhan Aug. 14, 1951 2,592,978 Trimboli Apr. 15, 1952 2,635,819 Bennett Apr. 21, 1953 2,682,063 Miloche June 29, 1954 2,732,139 Shaff Jan. 24, 1956 2,745,448 Leake May 15, 1956 

